The Government of Saskatchewan offered some insight as to what vaccination numbers need to look like in the province in order for restrictions to begin getting lifted. 

A number of benchmarks and guidelines were revealed Tuesday as part of Saskatchewan's Re-Opening Roadmap, on how the province can begin to get back to a sense of normality. The strategy is based on every resident in the province over the age of 18 having access to their first shot by the end of May and will occur in three steps with approximately three weeks between each one. 

The plan relies on three principles; everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated gets their shot as soon as possible, everyone is patient and follows the public health orders in place until they can be loosened, and the province receives the supply of vaccines it is expecting in a timely manner. 

Thresholds 

Public Health Orders and restrictions will be lifted in three steps, based on specific vaccination thresholds being met: 

Step 1 (expected the last week of May)

  • Three weeks have passed since 70 percent of people age 40 and over have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  
  • Vaccine eligibility is open to all residents 18+ in the province.  

(As of May 4, 65 percent of those 40+ have received at least one dose of the vaccine.) 

Step 2 (expected the third week of June)

  • Three weeks have passed since 70 percent of people aged 30 and over have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  
  • Three weeks have passed since the beginning of Step 1. 

(As of May 4, 53 percent of those aged 30+ have received at least one dose of the vaccine.) 

Step 3 (expected the second week of July)

  • Three weeks have passed since 70 percent of people age 18 and over have received their first dose of a COVID-18 vaccine. 
  • Three weeks have passed since the beginning of Step 2. 

(As of May 4, 44 percent of residents age 18+ have received at least one dose of the vaccine.) 

 

Guidelines and Restrictions for Each Step (Graphics courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan)

Step 1:

Roadmap 1 Reopening

Step 2:

Roadmap 2 Reopening 3

Step 3: 

  • Most remaining restrictions will be lifted.
  • Guidance on gathering sizes and indoor masking will be developed based on the progress of the first two steps.
  • Public Health Orders from Step 2 on gathering sizes and indoor masking will remain in place until that guidance is finalized.